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Isolation and Identification of an Emerging Pathogen, Kocuria marina, from Rattus rattus diardii
S K Loong1, J Johari1, N A A Che Mat Seri1
1Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Abstract:
Members of the genus Kocuria are commonly found in the environment and they are also commensals of the mammalian skin and oropharynx mucosa. Human infections, although rare, are increasingly being reported recently suggesting that this genus has mostly been overlooked or misidentified. Its transmission route however, is still not known. We report here the isolation and identification of a Kocuria marina isolate from the lung of a wild urban rat (Rattus rattus diardii) caught at a wet market. The isolate was susceptible to most of the commonly used antibiotics. The finding suggests a possibility that rats could be a vector for K. marina.
Insights
This study identified Kocuria marina in a wild rat
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Zoonotic Diseases
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Kocuria species are common environmental bacteria and commensals of mammals.
- Human Kocuria infections are rare but increasing, with unknown transmission routes.
- Kocuria marina is an understudied species within this genus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify Kocuria species in urban wildlife.
- To investigate potential reservoirs for Kocuria marina.
- To understand the public health implications of Kocuria in urban environments.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and identification of bacteria from a wild rat (Rattus rattus diardii) lung.
- Bacterial isolate identification using standard microbiological techniques.
- Antibiotic susceptibility testing of the identified isolate.
Main Results:
- A Kocuria marina isolate was successfully identified from the lung of a wild urban rat.
- The Kocuria marina isolate exhibited susceptibility to most common antibiotics.
- The rat was sourced from a wet market environment.
Conclusions:
- Wild urban rats may serve as a potential reservoir and vector for Kocuria marina.
- This finding highlights the need for further research into Kocuria transmission routes.
- The presence of Kocuria in urban wildlife warrants consideration for public health surveillance.
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